The Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Meals Safety, has distributed seeds, fertilisers, and different inputs to 2000 farmers in Niger state, beneath the Nationwide Agricultural Development Scheme and Agro-Pocket (NAGS-AP).
The Nationwide Venture Officer of NAGS-AP, Mr Ishaku Buba disclosed this on Thursday throughout the distribution of inputs for the 2024/2025 dry season wheat farming in Garafini and Swashi communities in Borgu Native Authorities Space of Niger state.
In keeping with Buba, who was represented by Musaku Emmanuel, from the ministry, the scheme targets 2,000 farmers in two clusters, and it has taken off on 2,000 hectares of land within the two communities utilizing mechanised farming strategies.
The programme, aimed toward making Nigeria self-sufficient in wheat manufacturing, was in collaboration with SMK Nigeria Restricted, a personal conglomerate.
“This initiative is anticipated to enhance the residing situations of the group and deal with the shortfall of wheat manufacturing within the nation.
“SMK Nigeria Restricted offers the farmers with NPK and Urea fertilisers in addition to licensed and improved seeds of wheat,” the Venture Officer mentioned.
FG secured a $134m mortgage from AfDB to help the NAGS-AP Venture
In November 2024, the Ministry of Agriculture and Meals Safety introduced that it had secured a mortgage facility of $134m from the African Growth Bank (AfDB) to assist farmers increase seeds and grain manufacturing within the nation by way of the Nationwide Agricultural Development Assist Scheme-Agro Pocket (NAGS-AP) Venture.
The Minister, Sen. Abubakar Kyari, disclosed this whereas flagging off the 2024/2025 Nationwide Dry Season Farming Calabar, together with the Governor of Cross River State.
He defined that the mortgage would support the help of 250,000 wheat farmers throughout the wheat-producing states, by offering them with backed agricultural inputs
“For the 2024/2025 dry season farming, the venture is focused to help 250,000 wheat farmers throughout the wheat-producing states with backed agricultural inputs to domesticate about 250,000 hectares with an anticipated output of about 750,000 metric tons of wheat to be added to the meals reserve to cut back dependence on importation of the product and in addition improve home consumption.
“Equally this system will present help to 150,000 rice farmers beneath the second section to cowl all of the 37 states, together with FCT, with an anticipated output of about 450,000 metric tons,” the minister mentioned.
What it is best to know
- In keeping with the Nationwide Bureau of Statistics, 14 states produce wheat in Nigeria, specifically: Kano, Jigawa, Kebbi, Sokoto, Zamfara, Bauchi, Kaduna, Borno, Yobe, Gombe, Katsina, Plateau, Adamawa, and Cross River.
- Nigeria is presently not producing sufficient grains together with wheat.
- As a part of efforts to fight meals insecurity, the federal authorities, earlier this 12 months, authorized a 150-day duty-free window to permit the importation of maize, husked brown rice, and wheat.
- Nairametrics reported that in September 2024, the United Nations World Meals Programme (WFP) distributed wheat to over 68,000 weak households in Katsina State, to assist the state fight meals insecurity.
Be First to Comment